Rumble and Roar

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A founder of Roar in The Mountains wants to put the brakes on the Rumble Thru the Alleghenies, contending the Rumble organizers have maligned the show he's been planning since 2005, according to published reports.

Kenneth Knisley, of Altoona, Pa., has sued the Jaffa Shrine Center, seeking a court order to bar the competing event.

Knisley told the Altoona Mirror he began planning for Roar in January 2005 to take advantage of an annual influx of motorcycle enthusiasts, hoping to promote tourism and generate event-related business opportunities.

Rumble chairman Bill Wilkinson told the newspaper last week that people complained about Roar in 2006 and 2007 because of offensive language at a concert, the lack of vendors and the disorganization of the gathering at the Jaffa Shrine Facility.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, Knisley complains that the Rumble's similar name is designed to siphon off attendance from his event and "is purposefully imitating [Knisley's] trade name, designs, logos and other materials with the intention of producing confusion in the public mind."

Both are scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 19, but the Roar is moving to Legion Park in Hollidaysburg.

The lawsuit also seeks damages for alleged slander and libel because of defamatory statements against Roar.

Wilkinson said he was not afraid of a potential lawsuit because Roar has nothing to stand on, but later declined comment until the situation is resolved in Blair County courts.

A hearing is scheduled for March 24, but could come sooner if another case moves off the court's calendar.